By Holly Weber, TTU Sports Information Coordinator
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.— A Cortney Fry home run against Samford highlighted the final day of the Samford Tournament. The Tennessee Tech softball team (3-10, 0-0 OVC) came up short against Wright State (7-7) falling to the Raiders 9-3 and then later was defeated by host Samford (7-6) 7-2 in their midday contest.
In the game against the Raiders, Wright State scored first in the top of the first inning when Gunther singled and advanced to second on a Tech fielding error, which allowed two Raider runs to score. Tech notched in their first run in the bottom of the first when Olivia Bennett singled to drive in Bayli Cruse, making it a 2-1 ballgame in favor of Wright State heading into the second inning.
The Raiders drove in three more in the top of the second when Floyd hit a 2-RBI triple down the right field line and Marquez hit a single to drive in Floyd. Tech added another run in the bottom of the third when Bennett singled down the right field line to drive in Cruse.
Wright State notched another run in the top of the fifth when Kennaw hit a sacrifice fly to right field to extend the Raider lead to 6-2. Wright State then added three more in the top of the sixth when a Tech throwing error allowed two runs to score followed by a Raider sacrifice fly to push the Wright State lead to 9-2. The Golden Eagles added one in the bottom of the sixth when Ashley McGowan hit an RBI single up the middle, leaving Wright State with a 9-3 victory.
Danielle Liberatore (1-5) suffered the loss going for 1.2 innings and allowing five runs on four hits while striking out two and walking two. Wear (2-2) was the Wright State winning pitcher going for all seven innings and allowing three runs on six hits while striking out four and walking three.
Against Samford, the Bulldogs kicked things off in the bottom of the first when Abby Sweeny hit an RBI single to center field. Samford then went on to add two more in the bottom of the second when Callie Brister hit a two-RBI double to left center, extending the Bulldog lead to 3-0.
A Fry home run to left field in the top of the fourth put Tech on the board and pulled the Golden Eagles within one of Samford at 3-2. The Bulldogs extended their lead to 4-2 in the bottom of the fourth when a Samford runner stole home. A lead-off triple in the bottom of the fifth followed by a Bulldog RBI single through the left side pushed Samford's lead to 5-2. The Bulldogs added two more to extend their lead and secure their 7-2 victory when Hannah Trombley hit a two-RBI double to left center.
Taylor Waldrop (0-1) suffered the loss going for two innings while giving up three runs on three hits and walking one. Jessi Stone (3-2) was the winning Bulldog pitcher going for four innings while allowing two runs on five hits and striking out one and walking one.
The Golden Eagles return to action on Mar. 4-6 at the LSU Invitational when they face opponents of Liberty, Memphis, Louisiana Tech, and host LSU.
